Compare towns
Plainville vs Derby vs East Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Derby has the most people working from home (15.1%).
East Haven has the most expensive homes ($294k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Plainville | Derby | East Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551 |
12,487Lowest |
27,806Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.5% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5Lowest 8% above CT |
46.4±3.1Highest 13% above CT |
45.7±2.5 11% above CT |
| Derby and East Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.8%±2.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
| East Haven and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
21.1%±3.9Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.5%±1.9 CT: 18.5% |
| Derby and East Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% CT: 42.5% |
35.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
25.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6Highest CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±2 CT: 7.1% |
5.1%±1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Plainville and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7k 12% below CT |
$79,500±$11kLowest 17% below CT |
$94,628±$9kHighest about the CT average |
| East Haven and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$256,700±$21k 30% below CT |
$294,200±$12kHighest 20% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
$1,452±$95 about the CT average |
$1,528±$132Highest about the CT average |
| East Haven and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798Lowest 28% below CT |
$5,510Highest 17% below CT |
$5,122 23% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4Lowest CT: 52.6% |
53.9%±12.6 CT: 52.6% |
58.9%±9.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
| East Haven and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
7.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% CT: 66.5% |
61.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
74.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
1967Lowest same as CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
27 minHighest about the CT average |
24 min 9% below CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
15.1%±4.8Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.1Lowest CT: 16% |
| Derby and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 149 in CT | #138 of 149 in CT | #127 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Derby School District | East Haven School District |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | Derby High School | East Haven High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
9.7Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.